Comment

Comment by Mataji Gauribrata, Rev Eva on January 5, 2012 at 11:59am

According to the UN, over 50 million girls in India are missing: having been aborted, killed, or neglected to death simply because they are female. In some regions, no baby girl has survived in years. Help us make a difference.

Peacenext: http://www.peacenext.org/group/protectgirls

Websites: http://www.protectgirls.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEhKu3T51Q&feature=player_embedded

http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/summer09/archivesummer09/jackson.pdf

www.motherstrust.org

Comment by Nugroho Angkasa on April 30, 2011 at 11:31pm

This article was written by Mr. Anand Krishna in Bahasa Indonesia. Then, Mrs. Sylvia from Belgium translated it into English. Source: http://www.kr.co.id/web/detail.php?sid=238248&actmenu=39

 

Published in Kedaulatan Rakyat Newspaper, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Saturday April 30, 2011

GANDHI and BUNG KARNO
By : Anand Krishna

 

Gandhi often said that his life was his message. And if we study his life we would find 3 main messages of his core teaching:

 

Satyagraha, Swadeshi, Ahimsa. Satyagraha consists of two words, ‘Satya means ‘the truth’ and ‘Agraha” means ‘request’. However, Agraha is not an ordinary request. It is 'a request by and for the truth, virtue, and justice’. It is 'a request without compromise’ because the truth does not need to compromise.

 

In the language of Bung Karno the Architect of the modern Indonesian Republic– it is “strong determination”. Strong determination as well as Satyagraha – emerges from a strong and unshakable conviction in something.

The slogan of Bung Karno ‘Once Independent - Independent Forever” is the manifestation of a Strong Determination – Resoluteness.

 

Gandhi’s Satyagraha is no other than and no different from the ‘Strong Determination’ of Sukarno. The languages are different, the expressions are different, the idioms are different but the essence is the same. The meaning is the same.

In the language of our forefathers, it is ‘Ichhaa Shakti’ Will Power: a Strong Will. Without ‘willpower’ we cannot do something extraordinary.

 

Bung Karno said that we can build small meaningless bridges – but we cannot build skyscrapers without determination, without willpower.

 

Satyagraha and strong determination derived from Swadeshi (Product) from one’s own country. It is the general meaning of swadeshi. More than that, swadeshi also means self-reliance.

 

In the language of Bung Karno it is self-sufficiency, or to be independent. What does it actually mean? It means to recognize one’s own potential – and to empower yourself (Self-empowerment). In the language of our ancestors it is called ‘Gyana Shakti” The Power of Knowledge, Intelligence, and Wisdom.

 

To know one’s self means to know one’s potential and also to empower yourself and to add to what one is lacking. So, it is not about knowing yourself passively “Oh, we are only common people anyway”. No.

 

To know yourself means to realize your own potential fully. Gandhi was an ordinary human being – Sukarno was also an ordinary human being. We can also reach what they have reached. Why not?

 

For that reason the means that Gandhi suggested and used was Ahimsa, which means Non-violence.

 

What has become the basis of this principle? Bung Karno explained to his son, Guntur, who was an adolescent, ‘Tat Tvam Asi’. The basis that I am You and You are Me.

 

Is there something that distinguishes one human being from another? We are all human beings who live on the same planet Earth, under the same sky as well. ‘One Earth, One Sky, One Humankind’

Not only the violence we committed against our fellow human beings, but also the violence we committed against all sentient beings has impacts on ourselves.

 

We hunt the innocent birds. They are dead – the caterpillars that become their food grow and multiply freely. And later they become a plague which attacks our fields and our bodies.

 

Ahimsa means Loving, Caring, and Sharing – love each other, care for each other and share with each other.
It is ‘Gotong Royong” (cooperation) in the terms of Bung Karno. Without the cooperation principles – one for all, all for one – we become petty human beings, narrow-minded, and selfish.

 

In the language of our ancestors, it is Kriya Shakti or The Power of Action. It means, it is not only a concept or philosophy but it is something applicable. It’s something that has to be practiced.

 

The three mantras, Satyagraha, Swadeshi, and Ahimsa, Strong Determination, Independence, and Cooperation are the amulets which can save our nation.

 

And not only can it save our nation but also other nations in the world. These three mantras are the World Savior. It is the Messiah; it is the Mahatma that is awaited by the world.

 

Therefore, we have to apply those mantras in our own life. Yes, to apply! These mantras are not to be uttered, repeated like a parrot. These mantras must be lived, done, practiced.

 

Be assured that you also can become Gandhi or Bung Karno if you have a strong determination, believe in your ability, and work together to help each other. Not only New Indonesia is in sight but also the New World. Be the connector, contributor to that new world. Be the citizen of that new world. Yes, you can! q - o. (2842-2011).

*) Anand Krishna, observer of social issues, humanist, and author of more than 140 books.

 

Comment by Nugroho Angkasa on April 24, 2011 at 1:19am

This is a translation of an article in Media indonesia

http://www.mediaindonesia.com/read/2011/04/17/218626/37/5/Penahanan...

 

The  detention of Anand Krishna, a spiritual leader accused of sexual  harassment was unfair. The reasons are, Anand has not been found guilty,  cooperative, and there is a guarantee that he will not run away.

 

The  assessment was raised by Frans Magnis Suseno, Ida Pedande Sebali  Tianyar Arimbawa the Chairman of Central Sabha Pandita Parisada  Indonesia and Djohan Effendi to reporters at the secretariat of the  Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), Jakarta, Sunday (17 /  4).

 

"I do not understand why judges imprison Anand Krishna. I believe that Anand is not going to run away,"said Pater Frans Magnis Suseno S.J.

 

Frans Magnis added, he even got angry because during the trial process  judges questioned more about the teachings of Anand Krishna. Though the  accusations were sexual harassment.

 

I told the judges for not  insulting themselves in the conspiracy. Run the trial in the appropriate  rules of court which are fair and ethical," added Magnis. (OL-5

 

Reference:

http://freeanandkrishna.com

Comment by Nugroho Angkasa on April 16, 2011 at 7:40am

This note was written by Gerard Barrie on the 36th day of Anand Krishna's hunger strike. Today is the 39th day, his life is in danger in every walking hours. SOS Urgently need a quick respond to press Indonesian Goverement.

http://freeanandkrishna.com/en/ Thanks

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sign the petition and also pass it on: Today, Wednesday April 13rd, 2011 is the thirty sixth day of Anand Krishna's hunger strike and he is very close to death in an Indonesian Police Hospital as it seems he is being systematically starved to death rather than being offered the chance of a fair trial.

Sign the petition at www.gopetition.com -Free Anand Krishna - do not silence his voice of nationality, harmony mission, and his principal of unity in diversity

 

This is a totally bizarre case possibly involving false memory syndrome and what appears to be denying the accused anything remotely resembling a fair trial to such a degree that that he had no choice but to go on hunger strike from March 9th,2011 in a non-violent struggle for a just trial for him and justice for others in his home country of Indonesia.
Today, Wednesday April 13rd, 2011 is the thirty sixth day of Anand Krishna's hunger strike and he is very close to death in an Indonesian Police Hospital as it seems he is being systematically starved to death rather than being offered the chance of a fair trial.

He has lost 25 kg weight can hardly open his eyes or speak some words.

 

Although it appears quite obvious that there is something more sinister involved in this process other than an accusation of sexual harassment using as evidence what could well be false memory syndrome, I am contacting you in the hope that you can shed some light on the situation in order for Anand Krishna to get the fair trial that every human being deserves.

 

I must also point out that the Indonesian judicial system has a notorious reputation for corruption, so much so that in 2002 the UN inspector described it as one of the worst cases he had seen.

 

Anand Krishna has been detained in prison from March 9th 2011 after he had been attending court since August over an accusation of sexual harassment from one of his former students,a nineteen year old woman who had this realization after undergoing hypnotherapy.

 

Dewi Pratomo  admitted in the media that she had been practicing hypnotherapy for twenty years although the Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI) said that she had just completed her distance learning education in February 2009. (email of the Director of Distance Education HMI, Elaine Perliss C.Ht. at elaine@hypnosis.edu dated Dec 15, 2010).

Another Hypnotherapist Wowiek Prasantyo Mardigu also claimed in the court that he had undertaken a 9 months long training with the Hypnotherapy Training Institute (HTI), but the director of the institution denied his claim (an Email from the director of the HTI -

 

Randal Churchill at churchill@hypnotheraphy.com dated on Dec 21, 2010 confirmed that this was not true).
In court, Mardigu, also said that he would do anything according to the order of the clients who had paid  him. 
Dewi Pratomo also claimed in the media that after isolating the accuser from the outside world for four  months and conducting forty five sessions of hypnotherapies, she had successfully recovered repressed memories of the accuser and there was sexual abuse.

 

However, according to many hypnotherapy experts, forty five sessions of hypnotherapy within four months was not only UNETHICAL, but also could lead to implanting false memories. ( no programe in AAF was designed or offered that isolated a person from the outside world)

 

Therefore on March 9th,2011 on this evidence and the evidence of the accuser, Anand Krishna was ordered to be detained despite his serious health condition and full cooperation in attending court proceedings since August and remains in detention on hunger strike today even though the trial has been going on close to eight months with no evidence and no substantial witness

 

His lawyer Darwin Aritonang SH has pointed out that this detention clearly violates the law and the human rights figure and lawyer Adnand Buyong Nasution has also expressed his doubts over this procedure saying "I have been practicing my occupation in the field of law for 50 years.This is the first time I saw something like this. There is a judge who already pronounced a defendant guilty before he delivers the official verdict of court."

Dewi Pratomo, Tara’s personal theraphist, was also allowed by court to become expert witness in the trial,thereby denying any chances of objectivety and conflict of interest.

Right now, the case is only relying on the expert witness, the two hypnotheraphists whose educational and proffessional credentials are in serious doubt and the prosecuting lawyer also Criminal Lawyer, Dr Satrio from Indonesian University, who is a known supporter of the Islamic Defender Front FPI.

 

The Islamic Defender Front (FPI) the notoriously violent and extreme Islamic Group also attended Anand Krishna's trial on Sept 16th, 2011 although they have never been known to attend such a trial before. (for more info on this group see http://en wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic Defenders Front) 

 

Through his actions, Anand Krishna has been an advocate of peace and understanding among the people's of his country Indonesia and it seems that these unfortunate events have come about at a time when it appears that a small but very powerful section of the religious community is striving for the implementation of religious-based law in Indonesia despite the heterogeneous nature of it's population. .

He has spoken to millions through television shows,radio talks,in-house trainings,books,newspaper interviews and articles,as well as daily meetings and workshops held at Anand Ashram (affiliated with the United Nations),One Earth Retreat Center, Anand Krishna Center and Graha Indonesia which he established.

Therefore only the most callous of people would not agree that Anand Krishna should be released from detention to avoid being systematically starved to death and allowed to face a fair trial.

Comment by Nugroho Angkasa on March 20, 2011 at 1:34am

Anand Krishna is doing hunger strike as a protest againts the injustice law in Indonesia. This non violence action has entered the 12th day on Sunday, March 20, 2011.

The founder of Anand Ashram Foundation (affiliated with the United Nations) released a testimony on March 13, 2011. This is the testimony from the father of 2 children:

1. There is a greater purpose than my detention. However, this violates the innocence presumption's principle. Yet human rights and Indonesian basic law guaranteed the freedom of every citizen.

How can I be detained if so far I have never been absence in the court? I always cooperative eventhough my health condition is poor as known by the Prosecutor, High Attorney and the Judges. In contrary, those who have slandered me did not attend the court frequently.

2. The aim of my hunger strike is in order that the state and this nation can see clearly how the law and justice can be tricked by some people who have positions for the reason: "this is our authority".

3. We need a total transformation and not just a legal reform.

4. I am disappointed with the judges and prosecutors with the system that does not run and still be able oppresed anybody.

5. I'm not angry, but once again I am disapointed. And this hunger strike solely supata all that is wrong can be corrected by upholding human rights and Justice.

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43856.html

Comment by Richard C Brown on September 14, 2010 at 7:55am

I am here to learn.
I will do what I can to communicate the wants and needs of the parliament media.
I will observe for the moment.
Thank You for letting me be here.

Comment by Graeme Sharrock on September 10, 2010 at 7:59am

Hi Friends of Parliament Media

I just posted "Media and Religion in America: Burning Qu’rans, Building Mosques, and Being the Donald" on peacenext.org.

Would love to see your comments and responses on this ongoing story.

Graeme Sharrock
Parliament Media

Comment by shree c k p swamiji on August 15, 2010 at 3:47am

Moodbidri Jain Swamiji calls for removal of ignorance
By Team Mangalorean- California

Comment by The Parliament of Religions on July 15, 2010 at 9:11am

Thanks for posting the video, Graeme! We posted a link to it on our Facebook page, and we're going to include it in a future blog. Thanks for keeping us all aware.

Best,
CPWR

Comment by Graeme Sharrock on July 15, 2010 at 5:23am

Please watch Samir Selmanoovich's new interview from Theooze.tv posted in
See what can be done with a small, stable HD camera and a kitchen!

Graeme

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